Creative Lewisham
Throughout the 1990s the London borough of Lewisham experienced painful changes. The decline of its manufacturing and light industry businesses affected the borough’s economic base and its identity as a community.

To address these changes, and seek a new economic direction, Lewisham Council created the Culture & Urban Development Commission to develop the borough as a creative and cultural centre within London. Urban environment expert Charles Landry led the Commission to produce a 10-year programme of change. The activity dove tailed with the Greater London Authority’s drive to boost culture throughout the Capital.

Kallaway worked with the Council to launch and communicate the Commission’s report Creative Lewisham – the Council’s cultural strategy for the borough. Activity focused on engaging potential and existing stakeholders across the city and in the borough’s cultural catalysts identified by the report.

To achieve this Kallaway created and managed a media campaign and launch programme. The media campaign focused on securing coverage in titles reaching the range of potential partners. The launch, held in a warehouse doubling as an artists’ collective, demonstrated the creative economy at work and brought together existing and potential partners with local residents and politicians.

The results saw Lewisham positioned as a leader, the first London borough to develop a cultural strategy. The widespread coverage alerted and engaged potential stake holders while the launch event provided a platform for these often disparate groups to meet, exchange and develop ideas for the first time.